Bahamian Education Leaders Celebrate a Decade of Student Success with Monroe

Monroe is proud to be home to more than 1,000 international students, including many, many, many students from the Caribbean. Making them feel comfortable, supported, seen, and acknowledged while far from their family and friends back home is a top priority for us. 

Sometimes, that means bringing a little bit of home to them on campus. 

To that end, we were honored recently to welcome education officials from The Bahamas for a series of celebratory events including campus tours, a welcome reception with Bahamian students, and a dinner in their honor in a gesture of gratitude for their decade-long partnership with the institution that has successfully graduated more than 200 Bahamian students. 

Specifically, we hosted Robyn Lynes, Chair of The Bahamas National Scholarship Advisory Committee; Chilean Burrows, Acting Administrator of the Scholarship & Educational Loan Division (SELD) at The Ministry of Education; and Dr. Sophia Rolle, also of SELD, to thank them for their commitment to college access for Bahamian students. The Bahamas currently offers two programs that allow qualifying students from the Bahamas to attend a baccalaureate degree granting institutions like Monroe for free or low-cost, including universities abroad. 

The visit marks the third visit from the Bahamian government to Monroe, a tradition that the institution hopes will continue for many years to come. Monroe University President Marc Jerome presented Chairwoman Lynes, Administrator Burrows and Dr. Rolle a plaque to thank them for their commitment to higher education access and generosity in supporting Bahamian students. 

“Supporting Bahamian students and collaborating with these scholarship programs is another way Monroe demonstrates its commitment to inclusion in pursuit of academic excellence,” said President Marc Jerome. “We thank Chairwoman Lynes, Administrator Burrow, Dr. Rolle, and the Bahamian nation for their steadfast support of these students and of the work we are doing here at Monroe University."

He added: "We are grateful to all of our wonderful Bahamian students for choosing Monroe University for their higher education, a place where we are creating an international community of students that can come here for both the life-changing experience of getting an education abroad while still feeling right at home with a cohort of students from their own country.” 

Bahamian students are able to attend university at little to no personal cost thanks to the National Tuition Scholarship and the Public School Scholarship Program. Monroe was one of the very first international institutions of higher education to participate in this program with the Bahamian government. 

Bahamian student Zion Dames, 20, is expected to graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science in June. He said Monroe University provided him “unparalleled opportunity” and the faculty and staff are “deeply committed to my success.” 

“My advice to all the Bahamians who are contemplating enrolling at MU, I wholeheartedly encourage you to seize the opportunity,” he said. “Monroe boasts one of the nation's top culinary institutes and is a major academic force. Above all else, it is a home away from home. Here you'll forge lifelong friendships and become a part of the Mustang family.” 

Monroe University and the Bahamian Ministry of Education have maintained a partnership since 2015. Denzel Daniel, Director of Residence Life, was in the first cohort of Bahamian students to attend Monroe through this initiative.  

“The Public School Scholarship Program provided access to a lot of students who probably wouldn’t have otherwise made it off to college, myself being one of those recipients,” Director Daniel said. 

“It’s been an incredibly successful program, and we are always grateful when we have the chance to host the Consulate General of the Bahamas, members of the Ministry of Education and Scholarship Advisory Board and have them meet with our students. Not only did they have a great time, but our students were able to express to them how grateful they are to the Bahamian government for providing them with this access. And one thing I can say about the Bahamian community on campus is that the community looks out for one another, and it was truly on display that day where even the government officials could see that.” 

As we celebrate a decade of student success, Monroe University remains committed to fostering opportunities for Bahamian students. We look forward to continuing our partnership with The Bahamas Ministry of Education, ensuring that more students benefit from these life-changing scholarships for years to come.